You Can Wrap the Scent in Corduroy

One of my favorite parts of every day is shower-time. I just love it... partly because it's nice by-myself-thinking-time but mostly, mostly, mostly because of the smells. I love the fresh clean smells of showering. Those smells stay with you all day if you use the right ones. How many times have you caught a small whiff of someone's hair or skin and wondered what lovely-fragranced shampoo, conditioner, or soap that could be? What?! Is that just me???

Anyway, I recently bought new Aussie shampoo and conditioner. I haven't used Aussie since I was a kid. Callie always had Aussie... or at least she had some Aussie at some point in her life. I remember going to Gran's and seeing it, smelling it, possibly even using some of it if I stayed over. Well, I think that's a real memory. You'd think that by living with Cal for a year my sophomore year at college (my memory skills should've been fully honed by then, right?), I'd remember more definitively what shampoo she used then. Especially since my mind so clearly remembers her as an Aussie gal. Funny that I'm questioning it now. Regardless, Callie = Aussie and I remember LOVING her Aussie but never wanting to spend more than $0.99 when I actually got to the store to buy shampoo and conditioner. I know, I know. I'm cheap. Actually, I've broken down more than once in my life and purchased some Herbal Essences. But, for the most part, I've been a cheapo (as long as it's nice-smelling) girl. This last trip to the store, I decided to splurge on some Aussie. It is the best-smelling shampoo & conditioner I've ever had. It makes me enjoy shower time even MORE.

BUT... you know what absolutely RUINS the ("organic", if you're an Herbal Essences fan) euphoria of heavenly-scented shower time? A stinky towel. P.U. I just went from heaven to hell in one quick swipe of that towel over my yummy-smelling hair and body. Dang it. Now, I feel like I need to get back in that shower and re-do all that sudsing and thinking and thinking and sudsing... just to get my intoxicating smells back. Intoxicating as in the best possible of ways... not the intoxicating as in need of detox.

The Happiest Little Part of Me

When you work from home and take multiple walks per day in the mucho-warmo sun of spring in southeast Georgia, you wear a lot of t-shirts and shorts. And you do a lot of laundry. So, the same t-shirts you wear one week are generally recycled into the next week's wardrobe... of course, because they hit the top of the pile when they're laundered each week. Anyway, there's this one t-shirt that I find myself wearing more than all the others. It makes me smile every time I put it on for two reasons... maybe more, but two that I'll share with you here.

For one, it's a marching band tee. (By the way, I saw a young guy... think high schooler... in Wal Mart tonight in a marching band tee. This guy was cute, looked like he probably has several things going for him... sports, friends, etc. Why should I be amused that he was wearing a marching band tee?) I think us self-proclaimed "band geeks" have sentenced ourselves to such a silly moniker. Self-preservation, y'know? I don't care. Honestly, some of us ARE big ole dorks. But we're the kind of dorks that are funny and silly. Anyway, I'll tell anyone who wants to listen that I was a member of the Marching Tar Heels. Best years of my life. Best friends I ever had. Best, well, lots o' stuff. But the fact that this particular t-shirt is a Pride of the ACC advert makes me giggle every time I think about my audience in the neighborhood. They have no idea, I'm sure. They're just not in the game.

Second, it has a HOLE in it. Now, I have TONS of t-shirts in my drawers/closet/armoire. Many of them haven't been worn many times at all and are in pristine condition. Why I would continue to sport a marching band tee with a HOLE in it is beyond me. But I do. I probably actually seek it out, truth be told. One thing I didn't mention (but that you probably could've guessed) is that I have about a million marching band tees. Of this particular year/style/print? Probably (without exaggeration) at least five. The hole is what sets this one apart. I always know that it's "the one" because I can do something with it I can't with all the rest of the mirror-minded Pride tees... I can touch the skin on my shoulder without lifting the sleeve. I know... a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Ooooooh. Anyway, the tragedy (or blessing, depends on your point of view, I guess) is that the hole is growing noticeably bigger now. I guess the fabric really isn't holding up as well as I could've hoped.

Anyway... this was today's t-shirt. It was just-light-enough workout garb on, count 'em, TWO walks (Cooper was stoked!) and it served as the perfect cover-up to my it's-finally-time-to-break-it-out-again! bikini at the pool (oh my gosh, how much do I LOVE sneaking off to the pool in the middle of my workday?!). Of course, most importantly, it's my most-impressive topic of conversation tonight on this here silly (and hopefully funny) blog.

Speaking of going to the pool and my bikini... I decided that I'm soft, sure. I have rounded edges. I have definitely been neglecting the aerobic and anaerobic. But I don't care. If I could bear to keep the self-portraits on the camera (and possibly even eventually transfer 'em to the computer), I could have pizza and beer (although, substitute cinnamon sticks for the beer please... I'll take those sugar-filled empty calories over blecht-beer empty calories anyday). Luckily, that's good enough motivation to bring out my rose-colored glasses... or I-look-okay-colored glasses, as the case may be. No worries. I won't subject you to the proof of my delusion. But I will subject you to a few new puppy pics. Like Haley said, it IS called "Pawpads", after all. What else would you expect?

These are from just today. Now that it's warm out and our grass is green again, how could I NOT go outside, sit in the lawn, and snap pics?!

No Really... How Did You Find Me Here?

See? THIS is what I'm concerned about... and why I think I should go cold turkey.

I asked Jon if he didn't want to post something tonight. He surprised me and said no. And I just don't have anything on my mind at the moment. So, I'm just popping in to say hi. Taking the advice of trusted advisors who say not to write anything if you have nothing to say.

Know why I can't wait till this weekend and next week? Besides the obvious reasons of seeing my much-loved mom, pop, and sister, it's because Mom & Hay are just as camera-happy, if not more so, than I am. I ♥ pictures. I bet you didn't know that about me.

Look, more pictures of the SE Georgia sky:


Okay, I'm out. Sorry for being boring. Some people would say I'm like that all the time.

A Blog Worth Reading From He Who Sings Our Travel Songs

First time I've been online all day... and it's to post this silly little blog. I'm actually kind of proud of the fact that I haven't been online at all this weekend. Maybe after I'm finished giving up DC, I'll give up connectedness. I think I should. I have a problem. I'm willing to admit it. I think the only way to stop is to just unplug for good. Cold turkey. No goodbyes, no nothing. You wouldn't miss me. I know it and you know it. Just quit... kinda like the Lady Heels did tonight. Good example they set for me.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell Haley that the villa is booked. Looking forward to seeing you guys this weekend. You too, M&D... albeit a couple days after H&M.

I'm off to finish reading the story of Big Brother. Hopefully I'll finish it tonight and can check it off the list as well as move on to another. Big Brother sucks. I am Winston. We are broken.

Obviously, I'm full of it tonight. Too much time away from the interweb has made me loopy. The weather's been grand. First day back at the pool results in sunburn already. I am a weeding and walking machine. My legs hurt. I miss my Mommy. I tire of the History channel after about 5 seconds. I've had my chocolate cake (ate it too). Time is wasted. More, more, more. But none.

When I See You... Finish My Sentence

Your answer choices:

• Just plain wrong no matter what
• Wrong in most situations
• Wrong in some situations
• Acceptable

The descriptions you have to categorize with the answer choices available:

• "Closet Snackers" - Those who hide their snacking and/or deny that they ever snack.
• "Snack Snatchers" - Those who steal snacks from others.
• "Greedy Grabbers" - Those who always grab any snack by the heaping handful.
• "Snack Hoarders" - Those who do not share their snacks with others.
• "Double Dippers" - Those who double-dip their snacks.
• "Public Snack-Offenders" - Those who snack in public places (while on public transit, waiting in line at the grocery store, in the library, etc.).
• "Snack Yappers" - Those who snack while talking (on the phone, in a meeting, etc.).
• "Sloppy Snackers" - Those who chew snacks with their mouth open, have food around their mouth, and/or drop crumbs everywhere.

For some reason, this struck me as very amusing tonight. Funny? Not funny? Do we share a brain (or half a brain, as the case may be)? If so, I believe you just had to crack a smile. Whatever... roll your eyes if you must. But I choose to smile.

We All Fall Gloriously Short

A few details of the day:

• much too early wake-up (preceded by multiple wake-ups as my mind tried to make sure I was up & at 'em by 4:30am)
• seeing the insides of too many airports (four in six hours)
• enjoying the best possible time to live in SE Georgia on the drive from SAV to the Boro... LOVE the colors (trees, flowers, etc.), LOVE the warmth, LOVE everything about it really
• thoroughly enjoyed saying hello to the poochies... that is, until we read Sarah's note of the damage incurred this time... these darn hellions
• tried to actually get some work done, but was more successful in getting some of the Tivo'd shows cleared off
• my mommy took lots of time away from her busy schedule just to listen to me because I needed to talk... thanks, Mom
• I'm tired... off to bed

... But not before I give you the fun link of the day. Take the FOX Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? quiz to see how YOU stack up! I made a 90%. I missed the term limit of a U.S. House of Representatives member. Who remembers that?! Well, except for those guys & gals who are elected to the House of Reps.

Our Own Little Square Of The Airport

Well, Haley won't wake up... she's not the "sport" I am when it comes to answering AM phone calls... well, she answered, but wasn't going to be talked into chatting. So, I'll sing to you guys.

Drain the veins in my head
Clean out the reds in my eyes to get by security lines
Dear x-ray machine, pretend you don't know me so well
I won't tell if you lied ...

To Every Season

I must mention, once again, Mad Mex's big azz margaritas. Thoroughly enjoy. Of course, at 6:00 am on our first-flight-out in the morning, I'm sure I won't be so complimentary.

So, one question, then I'm off to an early bedtime. Do you think you REALLY know how precious time is???

We'll talk more later. Must pack and get ready for bed to get up extra-early and catch a 5:15 taxi in the AM. Fun, fun. But at least we'll be back in the SAV by lunchtime-ish.

If I Wrote You A Symphony... Or A Simple Little Blog Post

What Heidi Means   H is for Happy   E is for Energetic   I is for Intelligent   D is for Delicious   I is for Influential What Does Your Name Mean?

I love swiping links from Thumper. I especially love when Thumper swipes links from me. It makes me smile when I find evidence that you guys are really reading. So, Thumper... turns out you probably would've been a MUCH better choice for the position we discussed way back when. I've heard the scoop on the newbie and it's not going so well. You would've been perfect! By the way, it's not the head job... not even management... but if you're ever interested in a do-bee job with us, let me know. There are seven positions open at this point... and with your personality and "geniusness", I have no doubt you'd rule the company in no time.

Jon & I thoroughly enjoyed dinner with my friend, Judy, tonight. Oh wait... Jon zoned out most of the time because Judy & I were in major catch-up/vent-about-work-stuff mode. Oh well... Jon got his time with his classmate last night. I got my time with the most-favored SCE colleague tonight. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed.

Meanwhile, working in the office is getting me VERY behind on actual work. I spent all day today flitting from person to person answering questions, giving updates, saying quick hellos that turned into hour-long conversations (doesn't everyone just LOVE those?!), helping with this & that, covertly arranging a surprise celebration at Jen's baby shower at lunchtime, teaching people how to fish (as opposed to just giving them the daily special), venting, catching up, listening attentively at meetings (yeah, right), etc., etc. I can't believe I'm already down to one last day in the office. No way will I get everything done that needs to be done. DANG IT! Oh well... I guess I'll need to plan yet another trip up here soon. Maybe I can actually spend a little bit of time at home before I set out on the road again, though. Speaking of another trip, though... Jen told me today that there is ONE daily DIRECT flight between State College and Atlanta!?!?! Who knew? I've got to check that bad boy out. Perhaps I could sidestep these two layover nightmare trips one of these times!

So, anyway... let's do this all again tomorrow. What do you say? X to tha O.

Awkward At First

My face is frozen in a perma-smile. Funny how it gets like this when I go back to working in an office. Yeah, that's what it is.

For those of you we haven't talked to since it ended... Jon's defense went as well as could be expected. In fact, he prides himself on how accurate he was in visualizing it all beforehand. He started a little after 11 and they went for over 2 hours. Now, he has one more rewrite (hopefully, it's not that dramatic) and it's Doctor Jon all the way. (His colleagues told him they were going to have his name plate changed out for him when he gets back... the "Mr." for a "Dr."... sounds like a great plan!)

In other news, I spent two hours or more in my boss's office chatting with her this afternoon. Gosh... I forget how much I love spending time with her. It's hard because she's going through tough times personally right now, and I want her to be able to talk to me about it if she needs/wants to. But I don't want to be the pusher. So, I just ask her if she's doing okay. Sometimes just that simple little question (no matter how you ask it) means the world to someone. I know it means everything to me.

Dear Lord, Please Welcome This Rameses to Heaven Since He Won't Be Coming Back to the Southern Version

Turns out the random guy's blog was right... Jason Ray died this morning: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1248309/. That story is so sad. Just puts things into perspective, huh?

The Power of Five

Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts
Positive thoughts

Today's the day. Eleven o'clock's the time. You got it, Jon. Can't you feel the good vibes coming from everyone we know?!

And while it may not be appropriate/related/whatever, I thoroughly enjoyed the C.S. Lewis Thought of the Day from my e-mail inbox this AM:
You cannot go on being a good egg forever. You must either hatch or rot.

Singing about the Unconquerable Instinct in the Inviolate Room

How do I get stuck working this late?! I start off by simply trying to clean up this week's e-mail in my Inbox. (Of course it's piling up on me... I haven't been online for two days while I've been in training!) But I get stuck working on tasks that end up taking forever to complete. And I even don't finish a few. But I've been working on them since coming back to the hotel from dinner & drinks 6 hours ago!

Speaking of dinner & drinks, there was a fun group of 5 of us still hanging out in Waco tonight. (It's funny... there were two women here who very-much reminded me of people I know... one, an old friend from Northwood and another, a good friend's mom! One of these doppelgängers was with the group tonight.) We visited Cricket's, a neat little bar/restaurant in the Warehouse District... which happens to be about 2 blocks from our hotel. This is a cute little downtown-ish area. We're directly across from the Convention Center, within sight of the Brooklyn Bridge prototype (I'll explain when I eventually tell you the fun facts about Waco), and walking distance from anything/everything you'd want in Waco. Well, anything a stick-close-to-the-hotel-business-traveler-not-really-interested-in-exploring-too-much would want.

I'll save my few fun facts about Waco for another post. I've already packed that brochure in preparation for a relatively early departure in the AM. Man... I hope I'm better at getting up tomorrow than I was this morning. Seriously... I went from out cold to downstairs & ready to leave in 15 minutes... TOPS. Obviously, I'm very proud of that fact.

My reading of choice during this trip has been George Orwell's 1984. No, I've never read it! (And, if we're being honest, I bet most of you haven't either.) Anyway, just wanted to share a few quotes with you before I hit the hay. You should know, before I write these out, that this book is pretty darn depressing. It's fabulous, but pessimisticiticicicitic to the Nth degree.

For whom, for what, was that bird singing? No mate, no rival was watching it. What made it sit at the edge of the lonely wood and pour its music into nothingness?

Now that they had a secure hiding place, almost a home, it did not even seem a hardship that they could only meet infrequently and for a couple of hours at a time. What mattered was that the room over the junk shop should exist. To know that it was there, inviolate, was almost the same as being in it. The room was a world, a pocket of the past where extinct animals could walk.

In reality, there was no escape. ... To hang on from day to day and from week to week, spinning out a present that had no future, seemed an unconquerable instinct, just as one's lungs will always draw the next breath so long as there is air available.

Ugh... mornings

Don't you just hate the feeling you get when... you wake up at 7:28 and you're expected in the lobby at 7:30?!?! Screw that... my shower/prep routine can be cut to 2 minutes. Can't yours? Pssha.

Slip Into Position

My favorite, favorite, favorite playground activity:


Come on. You KNEW that.

Any my favorite kiddies mid-walk:

I Keep Looking for Willy, Waylon, and the Boys

What makes a trip bad when there really are no travel glitches?

- hotels that advertise wi-fi when your computer refuses to pick up even the faintest of signals (makes for tedious, thumb-cramping blog posts)

- dumping a cup of water in your own lap on a tiny State College-esque prop plane (otherwise known as peeing your pants)

- actually ending up appreciating TSA's baggie policy when your liquids spill out into said baggie... but cause not-so-fun clean-up session in Houston airport bathroom

- a scrape on your knuckle (experienced during said clean-up session) that won't stop bleeding... and no band-aid to be found

- having to buy a band-aid for $2.50

- a pain in the neck that just willl not stop hurting

Is the phrase "crick in the neck" used outside of NC or the general southeast? I bet I find out tomorrow... mainly because I'm positive that I can't go a whole day (shoot... I can't go an hour) without complaining about it! Waco's not my friend yet... but we're scheduled for some get-acquainted time tomorrow. Hopefully we'll like each other in the daylight. Although, s/he is getting off on the wrong foot with a 7:30 call time. We need to talk....

Over and out from bestie. Tired girl says g'night. G'night.

The Moments Before I/We... Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road

The hours before a trip are so predictable for me. I pace. With no purpose whatsoever. I just walk around aimlessly, feeling restless, thinking that there must be something I should be doing (which, of course, there are plenty of things), but not wanting to really do any of them. I should pack... eh, it's still too early. If I've already packed, I'm pacing thinking of things I know I must be forgetting. I consider plopping down in front of the TV, but that seems like such a meaningless way to spend the last few hours at home. I consider the computer... and, honestly, usually go there... even though I know that's just as meaningless. I look over things. I think about cleaning and organizing things. I make piles. It's ritualistic.

Tonight, it's somewhat premature... since I have pretty much all day tomorrow to get my pace on too. These poor wide, old boards.

Meanwhile, I think I've finally gotten the details ironed out for the trip up north next week. Who knew State College was hosting a festival this weekend?! After one hotel switch after the first night, we should be golden.

Can You Spell F-L-O-P?

I'm sorry, but I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Dook loss. I started feeling guilty for rooting against the ACC at the end... when there was 1.8 left and I felt pretty confident that, without Christian, the Dookies couldn't pull it out. Boo hoo. Actually, the biggest reason I was disappointed with the Dook loss was because it added a loss on my bracket. And, please believe me when I say I really truly DID have VCU in my original submission. Changed it just this morning... at the last minute when I thought... ugh, no matter how much I'd like it to happen, it's just not likely to. But it did. *snicker*snicker*snicker*

I nearly peed my pants when I saw this during the Dook loss. (Apologies for the crappy vid quality... it's recorded on my digicam from the TV... so it's pretty decent given that!) Greg Paulus demos lesson #1 on day #1 at Dook b-ball camp:


Did you see him lean in? C'mon, watch it again. It gets better the more times you play it. LOL! Watch how he falls, how his neck bends when he feels the slightest bit of contact, the lean-into-it movements just prior to falling over, the dead-weight feet hitting the floor after the fall. Man... that is hilarious. How could anyone not think so?!

Meanwhile, Carolina... thanks for the mini-panic attack during the 30-9 Eastern Kentucky run. Phew. Wouldn't it be just like a team of mine to be the first #1 seed ever to go down in their first game?! Luckily, they pulled it out & made it a decent 1v16 win for us. And Dick E. gave us a Maddenesque quote worthy of blogging: "That was like dogs going after a pork chop. ... First one there eats first." Oh, Dick, you're so dang funny.

In the Headlines...

In today's New York Times: Google Is Reviving Hopes for Ex-Furniture Makers. Thought you Lenoirites (Lenoirians, whatever) and Hickory-folk would like to read. :)

And Today's Quote in ye olde Daily Inspiration:
Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be.
-Grandma Moses

COME ON and DO SOMETHING

Well, I was going to talk about "colleagues" tonight... a word which, evidently, I use a lot. Lucky for you, Jon & I watched a movie that I feel is much more pressing to discuss. Colleagues will just have to wait for another day.

So... I told you a few days ago that I'm a truth convert. Well, I'm also a cynic; something of a pessimist; an untrusting person; someone who doesn't take kindly to being told what to think, say, or do; and a conservative Republican. And as of tonight, I'm an inconvenient truth convert. Yes, I've been sharp-tongued when it came to Al Gore. I've been snide about global warming and the "climate crisis" we're facing. I've been more likely to believe the nay-sayers than Al Gore. I reveled in the news stories that say Al himself is a huge consumer of energy and isn't "green". I hate it when celebrities jump on an issue bandwagon... especially when it's not one I'm already on... because then they just make me feel small(er). I watched Al Gore at the Oscars, and I was simply perturbed by the hoopla.

Tonight, I think there should've been more hoopla. I wish more celebrities were on the bandwagon. I don't really care if Al Gore is "green" because I feel that he's pretty much doing his part by giving his presentation and making this DVD. It's the other celebrities who are on the bandwagon that I care about being "green". It's everyday people that I want to be more "green". I don't believe the nay-sayers anymore. Al and his movie convinced me that global warming and the "climate crisis" we're facing is real. I'm going to stop being anti-Gore.

And I blame the polar bears -- the poor innocent polar bears -- for this change of heart.

Tomorrow, for the polar bears, I will:

• Stop consuming so much energy
• Do more research about what I can do personally that will make even the smallest of differences
• Pay more attention to recycling everything that is actually recyclable
• Stop buying so many things that aren't recyclable
• Start looking into the possibility of buying a hybrid car (does it really make a difference?)
• Explore more of www.climatecrisis.net to see if there's anything else I can do to become more "carbon neutral"

And tonight, I'll tell you all to watch the movie An Inconvenient Truth.

So, maybe it's not as bad as Al makes it out to be. Maybe the whole global warming thing isn't as oh-my-gosh-we're-all-going-to-die as he wants us to believe. But, even if that's the case, what's the harm in us making an effort to reduce our small little effect on the globe?

I'm embarrassed about being so flippant about my ecological footprint a month ago (huh... interesting that I'm going back and re-reading mid-February posts today). I was partially dismissive of the 5.8 number (of planets necessary for the world's population if everyone lived like me) because I think that's a much-inflated number. I already do some things to be more carbon neutral. I recycle. I don't drive a lot (some days, at all). I turn off lights when I leave the room. I bought a tree (okay, I killed one too... but I replaced it). I try very hard to keep the plants I do have alive and thriving. But, yes, there is much more I can do. There's a lot more we can all do. So, COME ON and DO SOMETHING with me.

Some of the Safer Words of Wisdom from Erica (and Kierkegaard)

Of all human activities, none is so useless and potentially destructive as trying to predict the future. The future is merely a shadow which blocks out the joys of the present and emphasizes the miseries of the past.

Live or die, but for god’s sake don’t poison yourself with indecision.

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. (Kierkegaard)

And the rest are tidily tucked away in the bowels of the computer... well, and on the shelf buried in the pages of her self rescue guide. While I may have finished it long ago, it somehow brought me comfort to continue looking at the all-too-familiar, all-too-personal, wow-how'd-you-know tome sitting on my desk every. single. day. Obviously, to someone who likes to check things off the to-do list, it also brought me dismay. There were tons of turned down pages with words of wisdom leaping off the page... some not fit to share on a family site, some too difficult to explain, all much too close for comfort. So, I pick the there's-something-there-for-everyone generiticities (yes, that's my very own made-up word... you like?) to share with you tonight.

Haley, to answer your Q... this one is my fave. I like the randomness of the leaves & branches breaking up the bright white of the sky. Jon ultimately picked this one. And I had just learned that day (from a post on the Digital Photography School) about creating a diagonal in your pics (from bottom left to top right is most pleasing), so I kept the last one on the post for it's that quality.

Is there a restless bug going around this evening, or am I (as the only sufferer) in a quarantine? It wouldn't be the first time I've been quarantined... only the time before, there were two of us. I'm just curious... is there anyone else out there now? ASH, ARE YOU STILL WITH ME (screamed on an answering machine just so you hear me enough to wake up)?

Oh well, I make myself laugh. That's all that really matters.

Also, you should know... I have replaced my DC habit with a DS one (Diet Sunkist). What?! I told you I had an addictive personality! Hey... at least I'm sticking to one of my Lenten commitments.

Finally, my restlessness possessed me to lie down on the breakfast nook table and try to photograph what I thought would be a cool perspective of my funky chandelier. The pics don't really look the same as what I see. Wouldn't it be fab if there was a camera that could duplicate the beauty of what the eye beholds? Anyway... I'll share the fruitless results... but only because they're dumb. Is that a good reason? I'm sure no, but what the hell:


Is it over?
Yeah.
Cool, later kids.

Today is the Day... or Tomorrow... or the One After

So, um... our back yard finally grows in (although, it's currently stuck in yucky brown dormant stage) and our neighbors' is desert. I talked to New Neighbor (when I learn to spell his name, I'll use it) at length before they closed... about a little bit of everything re: living here. First of all, he knew my name. I figure... no big deal. I'm sure Jamey (our shared builder) told him. No... he didn't know Jamey built my house. Turns out, he's been looking us all up online. He has name, rank, serial number on just about all of us here. I was a little disturbed; but kudos to him for doing his homework, I guess. Anyway, so I end up telling him our back yard FINALLY grew in... after much TLC and finally giving in & installing the sprinkler system. Oh no, he tells me. He doesn't like sprinkler systems. He assures me he'll find a way to make it grow without the much-needed H2O. Okay. Good luck with that. Maybe he will... but given my own personal experience with how hard it is to make grass grow from seed here in our own little corner of the Sahara, I'd shell out the dollar bills for the ready-made oasis. Right Dad? I know you're a DIY'er, but I think you even decided we were right to finally take the plunge into full-yard sprinkler heaven, no?

Yes, so, this might be a pretty picture, huh?... if not for the un-grass that is New Neighbor's backyard.




Meanwhile, my new tree is budding! It's so exciting to have a backyard tree that has lived! I had the kids on a 3-mile hike this afternoon, found myself on the next street over (the one that looks into our backyard), and noticed that there are green baby-leaves on our tree! I was so excited, I ran back home and grabbed my trusty digicam to give my digital macro setting another workout. I couldn't decide between these three... well, actually, I could... but then Jon picked a different one... and I still semi-liked the last one... so I decided to post all three. You have a fave?




The baby-leaves actually look a little large in these pics. They're actually about 2 inches tall. Leave it to digital macro to work its magic and blow them all out of proportion.

Springtime is so pretty. Haley, go write an inspiring post about the wonders of spring. Oh wait... your car is still displaying the snowflake while my thermometer is telling me to wear tank tops and shorts when I walk the hellions.

Anyway... not to make this a long, boring post... but there are several things on which I can update (since it's been a few days since we connected). We booked the trip to State College. Now, if Jon could only tear himself away from Rainbow Six Vegas during his spring break to work on his presentation...! Okay, that's a little over-the-top. He only plays that at night. How excited are those Heels fans among us? Most excellent weekend for b-ball-watching, yes? These crazy dogs... if they run outside of our yard after another dog again...! I ♥ chocolate birthday cake... even when it's no one's birthday. (I can always claim the "Happy Birthday" in frosting is dedicated to one of my many much-loved March-birthday-celebrators... how about little J.R.'s 20-something today?!) Those grocery store bakery cakes don't HAVE to be bought by the birthday boys & girls among us; they can be for celebrating life, spring, weekends, or birthdays. I have been ultra-ultra productive for work. Forgot what it felt like to actually get tons of stuff accomplished! Meanwhile, my Inbox is down to SIXTY messages. Holy cow... I haven't seen that low of a number since I was hired!

I think spring inspires me. What's next?

What Would You Do?

Quick question...

The Part of You That No One Sees

You are compassionate, caring, and soothing. You like other people to depend on you... In fact, you don't feel right unless you are helping someone out. Underneath it all, you feel the burden of everyone's problems. Without your guidance, you fear that many people's worlds would fall apart. You like to feel in charge, even if it brings you a lot of stress.

What's the Part of You That No One Sees?

It's Most Definitely the Best Policy

A quote in today's New York Times got me thinking a little bit about honesty and truth this morning. Yes, again. I know I've written about this before... well, maybe not in so many words. I think my previous post was more about things I can't say... like I'm sorry to Mrs. Carey for that blown call in the junior league game (and "I love you", but that's another post altogether). But, one of the underlying themes, in my mind at the time of writing it at least, was telling the truth in the face of adversity. Anyway, today, a court case reminds me that it's important for me, on a small level, to continue to strive for honesty in all things... so that if ever called upon in the bigger picture, the justice system won't collapse:

"The truth is what drives our judicial system. If people don’t come forward and tell the truth, we have no hope of making the judicial system work."
PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, the prosecutor in the Libby case.

A lot of things revolve around the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help you God, don't they? Court cases, punishments, friendships, self esteem... shoot, I'm sure you could make a case for just about anything needing truth as an underlying foundation.

I remember this one time when I was growing up, I had gotten into Mom's makeup. I didn't know much about makeup... still don't... but it was fun to play with. So, I had a little bit on my face. I think I was old enough to know better than to smear it all over; so I was careful to put the lipstick on my lips (as paper-thin as they may be), blush on my cheeks, and eye shadow on my eyelids. Who knows what you're supposed to do with mascara?! That stuff still has me bumfuzzled. Anyway, so Mom finds me there. Catches me red-handed, I believe the saying goes. At that point in my life, I hadn't figured out how to tell the truth in the face of adversity. She's looking at me (and my made up face), with my hand basically in her makeup case; and I am afraid. I simply cannot admit that I've been playing with her makeup. What is up with that!?!? Fear is an awesome motivator.

All my life, I've struggled with that type of situation. I knew that kid walked. Mrs. Carey knew that kid walked. My BFF and crush knew that kid walked. I had blown it. But when it was time to face the music and admit I was wrong, I made excuses. Shoot... I flat-out lied. I'm not proud of it. But I hope I'd never do it again. I have definitely seen the light. I'm a truth convert. Have been for a while now. Can't really put my finger on when... but sometime between that makeup incident, the junior league game, and now, I became a bigger person. Literally and figuratively.

It's still incredibly hard for me. I am still so tempted to make excuses when I make a mistake. But I'm trying. And if you ask me for the truth... by gosh, I will try my hardest to give it to you. If for no other reason than to do my part in upholding the fate of our justice system.

Anyway... the heart attack I spoke of last night was on a TV show. Sorry to scare everyone. And Mom, the point of that post was that it wasn't the best Tuesday ever. Believe me... my best Tuesday ever would definitely have y♥u in it. Sorry I didn't call you back tonight. Let's catch up tomorrow.

Do You Believe In Signs That Whisper Inside Your Mind?

Since about lunchtime today, I have had my computer up & running and my brain up & running with work stuff at the forefront of all. I'm tired. But dang if I didn't get a lot of tasks completed... well, at least started. I did take a small break for a walk and a quick trip to the grocery store. But I received IMs even during those breaks (to which I responded as soon as I got back to the screen). So, it was kind of like I was ON the whole time. It's definitely time for a good night's rest.

First thing this morning, Haley told me about the "best Tuesday ever". I believe she heard it on the morning news... perhaps the anchor was having a good morning?! Anyway, so we both attempted to have the "best Tuesday ever". Mine didn't work out so well. Why, ask you? Well, don't fret, of course I'm going to tell you why.

1. I had to ignore Haley's call (in which she was planning to tell me about the plan for the "best Tuesday ever") because I was on my weekly Tuesday morning useless conference call.
   
2. It's March and it's still semi-chilly. I want warm weather again.
   
3. The Dominos people gave me breadsticks instead of cinnasticks. (Did I neglect to mention the quick trip to the grocery store included a drop-in to the local Dominos for a carry-out order? Oops.)
   
4. I can't seem to feel productive. No matter how many hours I put in, I can't get the big projects... the ones that seem to have been on the to-do list FOREVER... completed.
   
5. We're 6 days... scratch that... we're 5 days from the beginning of Open Enrollment (for which I'm partially responsible... but I don't take the blame for not being ready to roll yet... I've made myself available, just can't seem to get all our ducks in a row (as per our usual) as a department). I know it's coming. Looks like another series of long nights getting everything finalized again this year.
   
6. I was completely helpless to Haley in her graphic design efforts. At least if I can't get anything done in my job, I like to help Haley finish something!
   
7. Yonk's heart attack, Duncan + Kat. What in the hell?

Another ho-hum day. What's up with those lately? Maybe tomorrow will be the "best Wednesday ever". I guess that's the good thing about a calendar that repeats itself every 7 days... another chance. I mean, really, what's the hurry to have the "best ever"? Just regular same old same old is fine, right? U.g.h.

Melanie... Cooper & Kona say to come on over any day now. They will thoroughly enjoy the company on one of their walks. And by "thoroughly enjoy the company", I mean "nip at your ankles, knees, bottom, clothes, etc. while barking incessantly". Obviously, we need the practice.

Time's Been Too Long

Okay, I'm just really not even going to go there. If you've talked to me in the past day or so, you know my feelings on it. And even if we didn't cover it, if you know me at all, you know who I think was in the wrong. I'll just say two things (well, copycat one and subtley refer to myself for another):
1) "He had to rip somebody, didn't he? Henderson? Coach K? The officials? Packer picked Hansbrough's nose. Apparently it got in the way of Henderson's elbow." (Dennis Dodd, CBS Sportsline, blog)
2) 30 minutes later, I still can't find the post. Dang it... it was something about the Knicks/Nuggets game when the fight broke out and how dumb I think Isaiah Thomas is for his comments after the game about how Karl should've already conceded the game. Golly gee, Isaiah, I thought you still wanted to win. Anyway, you get the point. Did I seriously NOT write that post? Jon says he remembers it... shoot, maybe I just wrote it for him?!

Oh yeah, and just one more thing... if you still don't read Adam Lucas, you should start. He's great. I still ♥ Adam Lucas. (Lucas: Seeing Red).

Dang it... there are just too many good posts today about this incident. I must quote one more fave (Jack) from his top 10 excuses for "G" (that's Coach K's nickname for Gerald Henderson, evidently): "9. He was attempting to block the shot, assuming Hansbrough was trying to shoot his head into the basket."

Anyway, just in case you haven't seen it yet, go out and rent The Departed. It really is as good as they say (whoever "they" is). However, get ready for a reallllllly long period of on-the-edge-of-your-seat intensity. I felt like I was in suspense for the whole dang 151 minutes.

Meanwhile, life is life. Thanks for checking in... even if it is just periodically. You've gotta know I'm thinking about y'all even when I'm quiet. Just can't quite come up with the right words to share. I'll work on that. You work on whatever you've got going on. Until next time... snakes are horrible, horrible, horrible creatures... and ruin otherwise perfectly good walks.

ugh.

I Don't Trust Myself With... Oh, Anything

It turns out I'm a huge second-guesser. I'll pretty much second-guess any little thing you say or do. Oh wait... no, that's not exactly true. I'll pretty much second-guess any little thing I say or do... and pretty much believe in whatever you say or do (do you think maybe that's a problem in and of itself?... I DO... but we'll leave that for another day).

Anyway, I second-guess myself... in everything. Tonight, it's the taxes. There was a TV show on a while back. It was probably a few years ago by now. I think it was while we were still in PA. I could look it up... I know it was Diane Lane's boyfriend/husband who starred in it (Josh Brolin, right?). It was about a newly-elected senator. Right up my alley, huh? Well, this new senator, on one of the episodes (there weren't many... I don't think it made it very long), was doing his own taxes. His staffers were trying to get him to let a professional do it for him; but he firmly believed that (especially since he was now in charge of helping to write the tax laws) an intelligent American citizen should be able to do his or her own taxes. I let a CPA do my taxes the first couple of years, I think. And for anyone who's self-employed or has complicated situations, hey... CPA it till your heart's content. But I don't think my tax situation is all that complicated. It should be relatively straightforward. Plus, I really love playing with numbers. And I delight in keeping meticulous details about what I spend (category, amount, etc.). So, I've got the tools (& hopefully the smarts... my dad would be all kinds of disappointed in me if I didn't reap something from that Carolina edumacation) to do my own darn taxes.

But, hello, second-guess city. I've had everything ready to go now for at least a week, and I've been unable to just hit the button. What if...? What if...? What if...? Just file already. So tonight I did. Done. Right or wrong, good or bad, friend or foe.

I wish I could just trust myself. In everything.

And that TV show was called "Mister Sterling" (and it ran in 2003). Yes, I looked it up. You know I'd second-guess myself all night if I didn't get the answer.

When I Have My Whole Lunch To Myself...

... I find things like this. And I know, JON, that you'll hate it. So just don't play it. Everyone else, I'm SURE, will enjoy it... because, except for Jon who has simply made a joke about how many times I'll watch the movie just because it's on, who DOESN'T love Dirty Dancing?!



Oh geez, that makes me laugh. I love it.

Can You Be Distracted By the Weather?

YAY! There's a date! Now, we (Jon) can stop stressing about that part and move on to the next stressor. Woohoo! Next stressor = 1 month of prep and then 2 hours in a room with the monkey on his back then however long it takes to jump through the last few hoops in SCE. THEN... free and clear... hopefully. Good Lord, could we just graduate this boy?!

On The Class this week, funniest line ever (talking about a piece of cheesecake... which I would substitute a chocolate cake for): "It's like sugar and fat making love on a plate." Whoever wrote that line, kudos. LOL

So, as much as I'd love to come visit NC soon (I already told this whole thing to Mom, so Vick, you can skip this last paragraph), these are the BEST DAYS IN THE WORLD to live in Southeastern Georgia. I cut 45 minutes out of my work day today (which I made up, times like 7, tonight) to take the kids for a walk this afternoon around 4. We could not have asked for better weather. It feels like summer in the NC Mountains. It was 74 (when I glanced at the thermometer), the breeze was warm (think Aruba), and the sun was brilliant. We enjoyed immensely. I welcome any of y'all to come on down/over (I don't think any of my readers... at least not the regular ones... are anywhere south of me) any afternoon for a walk. We do it pretty religiously these days. In fact, I may need to change it up a bit just so Coop & Kona will stop getting all antsy at 4:00 pm. But if you come to visit, we'll walk with you any darn time you want. I miss having company, y'all. You should ALL feel free to come use our guest room any old time. And Mel... you wouldn't even have to use the guest room to visit. Get over here and help me walk these dogs, silly working girl.

Wishing you sunshine and quiet time (for peaceful reflection). ♥

Mom, We Got Another One Off the Road for You

No matter how many times I talked to Haley today about writing a quick note of sympathy to Elanor & Elanor's pop, I always found a way to forget. Over and over and over again. So, MC, please allow me to very publicly say that I'm very sorry about your beautiful Elanor. As I'm sure Haley has told you, Mom is the one with the experience in this department. But, she's provided all of us with substantial reason to commiserate (personally, one shattered windshield on one gleaming white Maxima and a similar-to-your-morning-conversation "oh shit" moment with me in San Fran and the ability to do nothing to help).

For the rest of you who are lost... DEER SUCK. And Elanor's a car. Well, a truck.

Lessons I've Learned About Laundry

Tonight, I decided I would change the sheets. The ones that were on the bed weren't particularly dirty... well, except for down at the bottom where Cooper had a little upchuck incident that bled through the comforter... ick. Sorry for that visual; this was supposed to be a pick-me-upper, not a make-me-hurler (the Hurler, btw, is a fun roller coaster at Carowinds, which I love, and which I hope Haley & I can visit once again very soon... well, when they re-open). Anyway, I decided to change the sheets...

Even though I paid more for the just-taken-off higher threadcount white Linens 'n Things "hotel" sheets than my formerly favorite Egyptian Cotton JC Penney green ones, these just-put-on ones are much much softer. Why did I give those others so much of a chance to be my faves? Well, because they cost more, I guess. And because everyone says higher threadcount is better. I say... Egyptian Cotton is better. So there.

And the best thing about these new, clean, green sheets? They've been awaiting use in my armoire with an open container of Bounce dryer sheets. They couldn't smell better than if they'd just come out of the laundry! Learned that little trick from a buddy a while back. Can't wait to snuggle down in my little coccoon for a wonderfully-smelling, über-comfortable night's rest. It's been too long.

I Thought I Told Ya... Hey

It's been a few weeks since this little trip over to the SAV, but I liked the shots... well, kinda. And since I don't have anything else that I particularly want to share tonight (but I didn't want to leave the page completely silent), I figured this would do. Just don't feel like talking much tonight. I'm tired... and grumpy. Maybe I'll share more another time. Maybe not. Guess you'll just have to wait & see. :)

Anyway, these were from the "other side of the river" the day we went to Savannah for the home show. You're looking back at River Street from the Convention Center side. Really pretty day this day... but still with a nip in the air. Kinda like today... I sat out on my front porch for a while this afternoon just to enjoy the sunshine. It was 70! Love the weather. Anyway, without further ado (don't mean to make 8 paragraphs of nothing):

Just a Few I Thought Were Funny

As cute as Coop is in his little jersey, I'm still kinda mad at him. He bit a chunk out of my arm on Sunday. No metaphor... he straight up bit me. We're working out our differences; but I'm still very hurt by him.

Tonight... headache and no game at my house. Bah, as Lis would say. Must chase away this I-miss-DC headache. Going to sleep ... now. Nighty night.

Oily Marks on These Walls

My away message tonight... with appropriate attribution to Jon (because I stole the whole thing from him):
Reading a dissertation... literally. Could be a long night. :) But one that has been well worth the wait. Finally, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... or is that the train coming?

Could it possibly be that these seven years of work are finally coming to an actual tangible end? Is there a stupid little piece of paper somewhere in his future? Stay tuned... there MUST be something about to happen.


And the truth about this picture...? Either A) the light at the end of the tunnel/train a-coming OR B) the guys at the house behind us still working WELL into the evening tonight. (Go with B.) They actually scared the pants off of me until I realized the rhythmic banging sound wasn't really aliens or the end of the world. LOL

In other news, Happy Fat Tuesday. Enjoy your Ash Wednesday. Lent begins... right now. Oh, Diet Coke (DC), how I already miss you... even though I just took my last sip a mere minutes ago. The moments are longer when you are actively withholding from yourself something you love, don't you think? Will forty days seem like four hundred? Probably. Go figure.

Hello? Can You Hear Me? Am I Getting Through To You?

The cynic (according to www.m-w.com, a faultfinding captious critic; especially : one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest... what a great definition!) in me gets a real kick out of this:

5.8 planets! That's freakin' hilarious! And, not true, by the way. NO WAY would my lifestyle for every person necessitate FIVE planets. Maybe four, but definitely not five.


Anyway, one more then I'm heading to bed. I'll leave profound for another day.

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

So, go figure after I mention April here yesterday, I hear news about her dad tonight. Troubling news. Many, many positive thoughts & prayers for Larry.

Love is Just Love, After All

For a second, I thought about being all Valentine-y on the blog tonight. I even found a pic from The Cloud Appreciation Society that I thought would be sweet:

I almost got inspired by Monsieur AZ who spoke of the four Greek words for "love" (eros, philia, storge, and agape). How poetic it would be to wax on about beautiful love tonight. And I definitely would've stolen his wrap-up statement: "I came to row my boat gently down the stream, merrily. And learn that Life is but a dream."

Okay, over that. My true speed today is more in the anti-valentine vein. Well, actually being "anti"/hating isn't really my thing either. I just get a little overly hate-y on V-Day. Why am I so anti? I've always had such fun Valentine's Days! But my heart is definitely back in the Anti-V-Day Club back in my H.S. junior year. Jill, April, Tracy, and I had such a fun afternoon that day. I guess it just always stuck with me. I miss those guys. I miss a lot of things.

Three-Fold Angelic Utopian Dreams

So, I'm probably one of the safest, most don't-rock-the-boat conservatives you know, right? I don't know why, but tonight, it hit me that perhaps I'm a bit self-destructive as well. Not really really... but behind the green curtain, a little bit.

I don't make up the bed a lot. I do it basically once every two weeks before the cleaning ladies are scheduled to come on Monday mornings. (I hate paying them to do things that I don't mind doing. Their time is reserved for cleaning the floors and the bathrooms. And yes, I have cleaning ladies. Shut up.) Anyway, when I do actually make up the bed, I like the bedroom a lot more. I seriously enjoy things that are clean and organized... I just don't enjoy being the one doing the cleaning/organizing. So, this morning (Tuesday, one day post-cleaning ladies), I decided to make up the bed again. Who knows... maybe I'll make a habit of it. Anyway, this morning I notice (once again... because really, I notice it all the time) the angel that sits on my nightstand. I look at this angel all the time... first of all, because I love her. She reminds me of all things beautiful and happy and meaningful. Secondly, I look at her often because she sits on the edge of my nightstand right next to where I stack the pillows. There's a corner of the bedroom, between my nightstand and a bookshelf, that is ultra-convenient for pillow-storage. If I don't get around to making up the bed in the morning, the pillows can hang out there, nicely packed away, without being obtrusive.

So, every time I make up (or unmake) the bed, I stack (or unstack) the pillows in this corner. And every time I think, "I need to be extra careful not to drag these pillows across my beautiful sweet fragile little angel. I really should think about moving her to a less precarious post." But I don't. I leave her right in harm's way. And I think about how very very upset I would be if I accidentally knocked her over and, God forbid, broke her.

I don't want to be broken. I don't want her to be broken, I mean. Why don't I just move her or stop putting the pillows there? Am I just tempting fate every time I go through this? Is it a foregone conclusion that she will, eventually, be broken (especially considering my track record with breaking things that are important to me) or will I be able to protect her simply by being extra extra careful and loving her as much as I can (without, of course, actually protecting her by proactively moving her to a safer locale)?

Oh, the drama.

Sad Faces All Around

Gilmore Girls: (In the spirit of tonight's ep... which I had to watch instead of b-ball... what the hell?!) You're the show I WANT to love. But I DON'T. Stupid David R. You definitely need Amy S-P. She NEVER would've turned Christopher into such a whiny, low-self-esteem'd baby.

That's it. All I had to say about that.

The Dad In Me

Okay, first and foremost, if this is your dog, COME GET HIM RIGHT NOW. Cooper & Kona have had just about all the excitement they're allowed with this little fella.


So, this weekend, I found a big old Dad streak in myself. (Both Mom & Dad are just about the most industrious peeps I know. I wonder if that's why I'm so lazy and would prefer to do nothing? Dad says "the apple doesn't fall far...", but what about the tree that stands up on top of a hill with steep sides? Does its fruit roll waaaaaay off the hilltop into the bottom-feeding bliss of amotivation?) Anyway, this weekend, I hopped up on the industrious hilltop with Moms & Pops.

• I washed both cars (VERY, VERY, VERY well... including inside and out, including cleaning out the pine straw, plants, dirt, and MUD that were in the truck bed, including Armor All, including true window washing... only not including vaccuuming, just got tired after everything else). I believe Jon owes me at least $30 for the detail. That's what it cost the last time I paid somebody to do it for me... of course, that was way back when I had the Montero Sport, and the detail-er was a buddy I knew from the NCGA. Man, that car was sweet. I've had some sweet rides in my day. I seriously just typed "sweet rides". LOL... I'm sooo leaving it just so y'all can see some of the funny-ness that sometimes comes out of my head/mouth.


• The kids and I walked the long route. The day was actually rather incredible. I think I saw nearly all of our neighbors outside on Sunday. It was 70+ and gorgeous. A typical mid-February weekend in Southeast Georgia. And that's why I like Statesboro. :) Anyway, our community is growing by leaps and bounds again (did it ever really stop?). There are eleven houses (that I can think of right off the top of my head) that are in some stage of building (from foundation poured today to final touches going in tomorrow). One of those houses is my next door neighbor's. Landscaping's done, outside (except for final screen on screened-in porch) is completed, inside is nearly there. Actually, the only things left to finish in there: the floors.


• I weeded (and this was a different type of the weeding you may have experienced, L) & engaged in various other landscaping tasks. The weeds are getting kinda bad, especially around some of our newer backyard landscaping. I've let them go now for a few months, and I didn't want to get the Round-Up out (just yet), so I got down & dirty with those bad boys. I enjoy weeding by hand. It is quite gratifying to actually immediately see the fruits of your labor... or, in this case, stop seeing the fruits of the big bad weeds. Oh, I also put some plant food/fertilizer around a few of the scraggly-ass why-won't-you-grow front yard plants. Hopefully, the dwarf nandina and the stupid short Cingular bar will kick it into high gear with the nice weather we've been having... coupled, of course, with my careful mixing of the plant food with the soil around their bases.


• My mom inspired my inside-worker-bee, and I did three loads of laundry... including the sheets, which Jon tells me he spilled milk & cereal on while I was gone. (Of course, he tells me this after I've already spent one night on them. Thanks babe.)


• Work work. I spent (off-and-on) all day Saturday trying to get caught up on e-mail... which is a neverending battle. I answered as many requests as I could, but I still failed to do the one that I knew needed to be done ASAP for my boss. I still thought I had time, but she surprised me with a haven't-you-done-this-yet e-mail on Sunday night. DANG IT! I love heading off her reminder e-mails... and I failed this time. Oh well... I'm sure I was the only one on that distribution (which happened to go to all of the HR management team, because we all still owed her stuff from last week's meeting wrap-up) who actually received the e-mail on Sunday night and had the owed materials in the boss's e-mail inbox a couple of hours later. So there... yes, I have no life. But I'm a kick-ass employee (while also being a terrible one... quite the paradox I've created in myself here).


• Finally, I got the tire patched today... Yes, I know I mentioned this on Saturday... and one would think that was the only time I'd have to write about it. But no. Mike, the tire guy, sees me today and says... what are you doing back here? He's a Dook fan, so I told him I was back to give him a hard time about Maryland. And then I asked him what he thought the chance was that he patched the wrong hole on Saturday. After he said zero/nada/zilch, I said... guess again, DOOKIE. Actually, he told me that they patched the wrong hole the first time on purpose so that I'd come back again; but he was being a silly flirt. I like silly flirts... they make me feel good about myself. And, seriously, what does that say about ME?! Anyway, two holes patched for real this time. The 35 psi should (hopefully) still be 35 psi in the morning.

Cooper, yet another silly flirt in my life, says g'night. ♥

Resolution of all the Fruitless Searches

I love finishing something. There's such pleasure to be had from crossing something off the old to-do list (or adding something to the completed list). And there's always so much to be learned from reading.

√  Flat tire fixed... well, I think.
√  Lord of the Flies

So, what is the true natural condition of man? Pleasure-seeking, fighter, rule-abiding, anarchist, selfless, selfish, ethical, logical, meaningful, playful, serious, lover, follower, leader, hater... When we're one, I'd almost guarantee that there's a nearly equal part opposite. And which ultimately wins out? The good, the bad, or the ugly? But then when one wins out, is it over or just the beginning? Are we destined to continually repeat ourselves -- cycle, one might say -- until the end of time? When left to their own devices, the boys prove that there's initially order, then anarchy. Would order have returned? Would any one of them have grown a conscience?

Golding is much better at intimating his own theme:

The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature. The moral is that the shape of a society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system however apparently logical or respectable.

Anyway, very interesting, engaging, and fun read. And one of the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council's "30 Books Every Adult Should Read Before They Die", Random House Modern Library's "100 Best Books of the 20th Century: Fiction", and The Modern Library's 100 Best Novels. Just FYI... in case you were interested.

Returned from the ATL yesterday; lounged around the house today (cleaning, taking TWO walks -- Cooper was in heaven, playing around online, working, reading, watching b-ball, talking, etc.); plan to do the same tomorrow. Before I start (tomorrow), here are a couple more of the Chateau Elan from my week o' meetings:

Clarity in Columbia... And the Search (Down the Interstate) for Illumination (of What I Know is True)

Everyone believes in how they think it ought to be
Everyone believes and they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor but makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching under water, you never can hit who you're trying for



Yes... all, indeed well.

HATE: An R-Rated Post-ie

Okay, so I usually try to be so PG here. But tonight, tonight I'm pissed. ESPN... what in the hell?! I HATE YOU. (But really, I love you... except for between 9 and 11 tonight.) SERIOUSLY, what is UP with black outs of a big game (that you've been hyping the hell out of) in ACC country?!?! That is RIDICULOUS!!! Some of us have very few options, stupid jerks.

Thank goodness for Chili's @ Mall of Georgia and Mark & Robert who let me hang out & watch the end of the game even after last call and closing time.

Also on the not-my-favorite-things list tonight:
- A sports lounge with a big TV & a POSSIBLE opportunity to watch the game in-hotel that's booked for a "private affair".
- Dookies who have no reason to be Dookies
- ESPN black outs... did I mention that already? Well... it deserves to be mentioned over and over again. DO NOT HYPE THE DAMN GAME IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW IT!!!

Thank goodness the Heels pulled it out! I can't imagine how not-suitable-for-general-consumption I'd be if they had LOST! So, let's calm down & be positive... the things that make it all better:
- Car-o-lina victory (when cross the field our foe has fled...)
- Free drinks
- Very funny and very sweet boys (at the bar & elsewhere)
- JC's team losing... ha ha... you should've come with me all those years ago when I picked the RIGHT SCHOOL!
- Lack of coppers on I-85 between Chateau Elan and Mall of Georgia... I mean, between Mall of Georgia and Chateau Elan
- Chutzpah

So Tired

I stayed up too late last night... or got up too early this morning. I miss my lazy mornings of awaking at 8 and 8:30, answering e-mail and doing virtual things from the prone position until 10:00-something. How will I ever return my sorry butt to the world of the truly-working?!

I must get to bed. Maybe that will help... or at least help ease the split screen nature of things.

A few quotes (the 11 most important philosophical questions?!):

1. “The unexamined life is not worth living”
    – Socrates (470-399 BCE)
2. “Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily”
    – William of Ockham (1285 - 1349?)
3. “The life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
    – Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679)
4. “I think therefore I am”
    – René Descartes (1596 – 1650)
5. “To be is to be perceived (Esse est percipi).” Or, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?”
    – Bishop George Berkeley (1685 – 1753)
6. “We live in the best of all possible worlds.”
    – Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646 – 1716)
7. “The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk.”
    – G.W.F. Hegel (1770 – 1831)
8. “Who is also aware of the tremendous risk involved in faith – when he nevertheless makes the leap of faith – this [is] subjectivity … at its height.”
    – Søren Kierkegaard (1813 – 1855)
9. “God is dead.”
    – Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900)
10. “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.”
    – Albert Camus (1913 – 1960)
11. “One cannot step twice in the same river.”
    – Heraclitus (ca. 540 – ca. 480 BCE)

You Oxymoronic Antonym, You

From one end of the state to the other... Savannah yesterday for the really really dumb Home & Garden Show (that I won't even tell you how much we paid to get into... b/c it was a bunch of crap)... and Atlanta today for the quarterly HR managers' meeting (which is always fun). What driving I've been doing! But it gives me lots and lots of time to listen to some fave tunes. Do you realize that your iPod puts 99 songs on its auto-created Recently Added playlist? If each song averaged 3 minutes (which is actually pretty short, right?), that would be 5 hours of listening. No wonder I only got through 35! The trip over to the ATL was smooth... until I hit a little bit of rush hour on the north side of the city. All in all, though, it was A-OK.

So, tomorrow is an oddity for me... get up, shower & get ready (including putting on real clothes that aren't PJs or sweats), go to work by 8am. I guess I should go to bed, huh? Perhaps I should review the agenda first. How did today get here already without me having reviewed the agenda yet??!! Gosh.. I really am a bad employee... but 'cept not really. I'm gonna finish with the black nailpolish first. :) I like it... I don't care what the rest of y'all think.

Finally, Dickie V and Stacey Dales picked Dook. Ugh. Okay, so maybe Dickie V didn't pick 'em outright... but he talked about how great they are and how much he loves Krzyzewski before saying that he thinks Carolina will probably pull it out in the end... so I consider that picking Dook. Stacey D., on the other hand, picked the Devils. I  ♥  Dook.

Don't look for much from me this week here. Now that you're warned, don't be hurt if I accidentally miss a few nights. :) I'll be busy... with work, yeah, that's it... with work.

Later silly gaters. (l)

Part II

Oh yeah... I DID have something to write about today... I just forgot about it until now (you know how that happens... when you read a story in the morning that you WANT to remember later, but you forget it anyway?!). So, did any of y'all happen to hear about Senator Joseph Biden throwing his hat into the '08 Presidential Race ring? Really, it's not so surprising that he wants in the race... what's interesting, and SAD really, is the one quote the NY Times (and every other media outlet, I'm sure) grabbed & ran with. Sen. Biden called Obama "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.” Oops. Typical old white man mistake, I think. Then he tried to say he meant "clean" as in FRESH (as in ... Obama has fresh ideas). Interested? Here's the NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/us/politics/01biden.html. Not really interested? Well, at least learn one thing... don't insinuate that an entire race of people is unclean. They're not. And you just prove your ignorance.

Sans the Burden of Me

And one of Haley's... b/c she's a much better photographer: